U.S. patent number 10,900,680 [Application Number 15/782,894] was granted by the patent office on 2021-01-26 for humidifier system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ademco Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Ademco Inc.. Invention is credited to Jason L. Ableitner, Alex Gu, Charles N. Hoff, Adam D. McBrady, Chris Ohlsen, Andrzej Peczalski, Thomas M. Rezachek, Lauren Seymour, Andrew Smith, Brad A. Terlson, Grant Wood.
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United States Patent |
10,900,680 |
Peczalski , et al. |
January 26, 2021 |
Humidifier system
Abstract
A system that provides effective and efficient introduction of
water droplets into an air flow. The water droplets are
sufficiently small so as to evaporate primarily before leaving the
mixing enclosure where the droplets are injected by spray nozzles.
Large droplets are kept to a minimum, thus reducing condensation
and water accumulation to a very small amount. An amount of water
usage is significantly less than that of a conventional evaporative
humidifier of the same capacity. The present system may be placed
in an enclosure that can readily replace other conventional
evaporative humidifiers in enclosures. The present enclosure and
system may be installed in lieu of a conventional enclosure and
evaporative humidifier with minimal effort. The present enclosure
has features that facilitate droplet to air mixing, viewing,
humidification, and testing. In permissible situations, the present
system may replace a conventional system but retain the
conventional enclosure.
Inventors: |
Peczalski; Andrzej (Edina,
MN), Wood; Grant (St. Paul, MN), Ableitner; Jason L.
(Edina, MN), Seymour; Lauren (Minnetonka, MN), Terlson;
Brad A. (Maple Grove, MN), Rezachek; Thomas M. (Cottage
Grove, MN), Gu; Alex (Plymouth, MN), Hoff; Charles N.
(Excelsior, MN), Smith; Andrew (Morris Plains, NJ),
Ohlsen; Chris (Shorewood, MN), McBrady; Adam D.
(Minneapolis, MN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ademco Inc. |
Golden Valley |
MN |
US |
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Assignee: |
Ademco Inc. (Golden Valley,
MN)
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Appl.
No.: |
15/782,894 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20180094825 A1 |
Apr 5, 2018 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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14334865 |
Jul 18, 2014 |
9822990 |
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62408668 |
Oct 14, 2016 |
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61856484 |
Jul 19, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
6/14 (20130101); F24F 11/0008 (20130101); F24F
11/30 (20180101); F24F 6/00 (20130101); F24F
6/043 (20130101); F24F 13/222 (20130101); F24F
13/22 (20130101); Y02B 30/54 (20130101); F24F
2013/221 (20130101); F24F 2110/20 (20180101); F24F
2110/30 (20180101); F24F 2110/10 (20180101); F24F
2013/225 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
6/00 (20060101); F24F 6/04 (20060101); F24F
6/14 (20060101); F24F 11/00 (20180101); F24F
13/22 (20060101); F24F 11/30 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;261/128,129,130,131,137,78.2,115,DIG.15,81 |
References Cited
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|
Primary Examiner: Bushey; Charles S
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shumaker & Sieffert, P.A.
Parent Case Text
This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 62/408,668, filed Oct. 14, 2016. U.S. Provisional Application
No. 62/408,668, filed Oct. 14, 2016, is hereby incorporated by
reference.
This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/334,865, filed Jul. 18, 2014 (issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 9,822,990 on Nov. 21, 2017), which claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/856,484, filed Jul. 19,
2013. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/334,865, filed Jul. 18,
2014, is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/856,484, filed Jul. 19, 2013, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A humidifier system comprising: an enclosure having an input
port and an output port; one or more spray units situated in the
enclosure, wherein each spray unit comprises: a plate having one or
more holes; and a piezoelectric material attached to the plate,
wherein the piezoelectric material has an opening that encloses the
one or more holes of the plate; and a conveyance mechanism having
an output connected to the one or more spray units, and having an
input configured to receive a fluid; and wherein the one or more
spray units are configured to provide fluid droplets into air
flowing through the enclosure.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises one or
more channels that effectively extend an evaporation distance due
to cyclonic effects from the one or more channels, and consequently
increase evaporation of the fluid droplets from the one or more
spray units in the air flowing from the input port to the output
port.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein each spray unit is a nebulizer,
and wherein each of the one or more holes of the plate have a
diameter between one and one hundred microns.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the input port of the enclosure
is configured to receive a flow of air having a first temperature,
and the output port of the enclosure is configured to provide a
flow of air having a second temperature, wherein the first
temperature is higher than the second temperature.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a water purifier
having an output connected to the input of the conveyance mechanism
and having an input configured to receive the fluid, wherein the
fluid is water.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the water purifier is configured
to filter the fluid using a reverse osmosis process.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a drain for
removal of condensed fluid in the enclosure.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is
configured to actuate the plate to vibrate at a frequency according
to an AC current applied to the piezoelectric material.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a driver configured
to apply the AC current to the piezoelectric material, wherein the
driver is configured to adjust a frequency of the AC current to a
resonant frequency of the plate of the nebulizer.
10. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold
configured to provide the fluid to the conveyance mechanism.
11. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure
control unit configured to control a pressure of the fluid.
12. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a
controller configured to provide an actuation signal to the one or
more spray units.
13. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is
configured to circulate a flow of air in a cyclonic vortex between
the input port and the output port.
14. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a wing
shaped head within the enclosure, wherein the wing shaped head is
configured to cause a laminar flow of air in the enclosure.
15. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a window
configured to provide visual access to a flow of air within the
enclosure.
16. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor
unit configured to sense at least one of a temperature or a
relative humidity of a flow of air within the enclosure.
17. A humidifier comprising: an enclosure having an input and an
output; an emitter situated in the enclosure, wherein the emitter
includes a plate defining one or more holes configured to eject
fluid, and wherein the emitter includes a piezoelectric material
defining an opening enclosing the one or more holes of the plate; a
fluid conveyance mechanism connected to the emitter; and a
controller configured to: cause the emitter to provide a fluid flow
using an applied voltage having a frequency, wherein the applied
voltage and the frequency actuate the piezoelectric material to
vibrate the plate and cause the one or more holes to eject the
fluid, and adjust at least one of the applied voltage or the
frequency of the applied voltage to adjust the fluid flow.
18. The humidifier of claim 17, wherein the controller is
configured to adjust the frequency of the applied voltage based on
a current consumption of the emitter.
19. The humidifier of claim 17, further comprising a fluid
filtration component having an input for connection to fluid supply
and having an output connected to the fluid conveyance
mechanism.
20. The humidifier of claim 17, wherein: the humidifier is
configured to provide a flow of air from the input of the enclosure
to the output of the enclosure; and droplets of fluid from the one
or more emitters are configured to evaporate within the air due to
cyclonic effects on the droplets, wherein the cyclonic effects
reduce an evaporation distance to increase an amount of evaporation
of the droplets flowing through one or more channels of the
enclosure.
21. The humidifier of claim 20, wherein the input of the enclosure
is configured to receive a flow of air having a first temperature
and the output of the enclosure is configured to provide a flow of
air having a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is
higher than the second temperature.
22. The humidifier of claim 20, wherein the humidifier is
configured to be installed to existing humidifier ductwork by
attaching to a housing of a previously installed humidifier.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure pertains to heating, ventilation and air
conditioning. Particularly, the disclosure pertains to humidifiers,
and more particularly to techniques of humidifying.
SUMMARY
The disclosure reveals a system that may provide effective and
efficient introduction of water droplets into an air flow. The
water droplets are sufficiently small so as to evaporate primarily
before leaving the mixing enclosure where the droplets are injected
by spray nozzles. Large droplets are kept to a minimum, thus
reducing condensation and water accumulation to a very small
amount. An amount of water usage may be significantly less than
that of a conventional evaporative humidifier of the same capacity.
The present system may be placed in an enclosure that can readily
replace other conventional evaporative humidifiers in enclosures.
The present enclosure and system may be installed in lieu of a
conventional enclosure and evaporative humidifier with minimal
effort. The present enclosure has features that facilitate droplet
to air mixing, viewing, humidification, and testing. In permissible
situations, the present system may replace a conventional system
but retain the conventional enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative example of a system for
introducing very small droplets into a flow of air;
FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are diagrams of various configurations of
arrays for spray nozzles;
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a nebulizer that may be used as a spray
nozzle;
FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams that indicate the water flow rates
from the nebulizers relative to frequency;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a self-adjusting drive circuit for a
nebulizer;
FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams that illustrate a design for obtaining
a laminar flow of air for injection of droplets;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams that show a couple of ways in which
nebulizers may be mounted on a wall of a wing shaped nebulizer
head;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams that illustrate a pill type enclosure
of a humidifier;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams that illustrate a round type enclosure
of a humidifier;
FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams that that illustrate a cyclone type
enclosure of a humidifier;
FIG. 15 is a diagram of a model "A" humidifier enclosure;
FIG. 16 is a diagram of the humidifier enclosure without front
shell thereby revealing some internal components in the
enclosure;
FIG. 17 is a diagram revealing an air flow through the
enclosure;
FIG. 18 is a diagram of a back view of the enclosure;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an emitter housing with emitters and
one or more LEDs for the enclosure;
FIG. 20 is a diagram of an illustrative example of a system for
humidifying;
FIG. 21 is a diagram of another illustrative example of a system
for humidifying; and
FIG. 22 is a diagram of an illustrative example of an approach for
humidifying.
DESCRIPTION
The present system and approach may incorporate one or more
processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless
and/or wire connections, and/or the like, in an implementation
described and/or shown herein.
This description may provide one or more illustrative and specific
examples or ways of implementing the present system and approach.
There may be numerous other examples or ways of implementing the
system and approach.
Aspects of the system or approach may be described in terms of
symbols in the drawing. Symbols may have virtually any shape (e.g.,
a block) and may designate hardware, objects, components,
activities, states, steps, procedures, and other items.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative example of humidifying
system 55. Arrays 56, 57 and 58 may contain spray units 59. Water
may be fed to a manifold device 61 that distributes the water to
spray units 59. The water may come from a supply 62. If the water
is not truly clean, like distilled water, the water may go to a
purifier 63 for cleansing. Purifier 63 may use, for example,
reverse osmosis for obtaining clean water from ordinary water, such
as tap or faucet water from a well or city supply. The water is
controlled relative to pressure with a pressure control module 64.
The water may flow from pressure control 64 to a unit 61 via a
water conveyance line or pipe 65 to distribution or manifold device
61. The water may be provided to the spray units of array 56, 57
and 58. Pressure control unit 64 may have an input from a
controller 60 that indicates an amount of pressure for the water in
pipe 65 to the spray units 59. For instance, a pressure may be 2.5
inches of water from a top of a reservoir under atmospheric
conditions to a spray unit 59.
A line 66 from controller 60 may provide an actuation signal to
spray units 59, which actuates or turns on one or more of spray
units 59. Spray units 59 may be turned on separately according to
array. Array 56, of spray units 59 may be on for a given period of
time or have a duty cycle while the other arrays 57 and 58 are
turned off or inactive. Arrays 57 and 58 of spray units 59 may, in
turn, be actuated while the other two arrays are turned off or
inactive. The spray units may be actuated individually, in a
pattern, or a sequence, of various kinds. Arrays 56, 57 and 58 may
be removed and cleaned, repaired or replaced, as needed. There may
be more or less than three arrays and there may be more or less
than six spray units in each array.
System 55 may be placed in an enclosure 66 where water droplets 68
from spray units 59 are mixed in with air 67, from duct 71, moving
past spray units 59. Droplets 68 may be small enough such that the
droplets 68 result in a vapor that moves with air 67 through
enclosure 66 and to an air return duct 72. Spray units 59 may eject
water droplets 68 up, down or sideways relative to enclosure 66.
The droplets 68 may be ejected perpendicular, parallel or at other
angles relative to a flow of air 67.
Duct 71 may be the warmer and/or higher pressure duct in comparison
to air return duct 72, which would accommodate vaporization of
droplets 68 and movement of air 67 from duct 71 to duct 72. The
design may also work with reverse airflow configurations to
accommodate installations where the bypass humidifier was installed
on the high pressure duct, with the bypass attached to the low
pressure, resulting in backwards airflow.
Enclosure 66 may also incorporate one or more components of
pressure control 64, controller 60, purifier 63, and other items as
desired.
Enclosure 66 and its components, as noted herein, may replace
current humidifier systems in present HVAC systems in homes and
buildings in a very easy manner. Enclosure 66 may be designed to
fit in as a replacement having the same size duct connections,
mounting fasteners, water, electrical connections, and more as
desired. A tool-like clamp design may be used to attach enclosure
66 to an existing opening in existing ducts. A strap that wraps
around an existing humidifier enclosure or body may be used to
secure the new present humidifying system 55 to the ducts. These or
other configurations are anticipated such that the unit may be
attached securely using existing openings and/or ducts or fixtures
without the use of additional tools. In permissible situations, the
present system may replace a conventional system or a portion of
elements of the existing system such as a cover and/or air
hydration elements like evaporative pads and frames or steam
generating elements, but retain the existing or conventional
enclosure.
Spray units 59 or emitters may be monitored with associated
detectors, or other ways, so as to provide a notification that an
array containing a poor spray unit should be removed, repaired or
replaced. The water for the spray units 59 may be monitored to
provide a notification in the event that purifier 63 is not working
at or near optimal performance, and that repair or replacement is
needed, such as, e.g., a reverse osmosis filter.
Enclosure 66 may be designed to recapture droplets 68 that have not
evaporated and drain them via a drain 73 to prevent their entry to
low pressure or return duct 72.
Flow of air 67 may be circulated in a cyclonic vortex so that water
droplets 68 are displayed in a way, such as through a clear window
on enclosure 66 or other disclosure, that lets one witness water
being put into air 67 and to keep droplets from attaching to
surfaces near spray unit 59. There is a benefit in that since there
is an intention to prevent any significant amount of unevaporated
water from entering the air duct, the vortex approach may offer an
effectively extended evaporation distance that can help increase
the amount of evaporation that occurs. In addition, the vortex may
serve as a cyclonic separator that can drive any large droplets
that might occur on the sidewalls and let them drain away in a
controlled way instead of injecting them into the air duct.
The arrays of spray units 59 may be grouped in a manner that the
arrays can be enabled selectively, so that for any time interval,
only one array is enabled, and after a number of time intervals
equal to, for instance, the number of arrays, each spray unit in
the respective array will have to be operating for the same length
of time as each of the other arrays. A purpose for rotating which
spray units are enabled may be to extend the operating life of an
entire array by reducing the duty cycle for each spray unit. Visual
observation through a window of enclosure 66 may aid in determining
satisfactory operation of each spray unit 59.
Purifier 63, such as an RO filtration component, may be within the
same enclosure 66 as spray units 59 and drain 73, in that, for
instance, seal failure may result in leaked water being directed to
drain 73.
A power supply and logic board of controller 60 may power multiple
spray units 59 individually, or in groups, to provide desired
functions of spray units 59.
Air temperature and humidity may be measured in a plenum just
downstream of an associated furnace and AC unit for diagnosis so as
to provide proper sizing and health of the furnace and AC unit, for
example, to avoid too low temperature of heated air or too high
temperature of cooled air.
Humidifying system 55 may be connected such that operation and
sensor status may be conveyed to an outside computing device.
System 55 may be connected such that a computing device on-board,
such as controller 60, can be remotely controlled by another
computing device, by recalling in a resident memory of any
type.
System 55 may be connected to the internet to gather data, alert an
owner about maintenance or an HVAC system issue, or other item of
concern or interest, particularly relative to system 55.
Spray units 59 of system 55 may be arranged in various
configurations other than that revealed in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2a-2d are
diagrams of spray units 59 in various circular fashions. Spray
units 59 may be arranged in a square, triangular, oval,
rectangular, and other geometrical forms. Spray units 59 may be
oriented to emit droplets up, down, sideways, and at various other
angles, or in a combination of different directions. The
geometrical forms for placing spray units 59 may be two-dimensional
or three dimensional. Spray units 59 may be arranged in a
three-dimensional manner which may provide certain desired effects
of a respective spray unit arrangement. FIG. 2a is a diagram of a
round plate layout 75 of spray units 59 on a manifold-like
interface 76 with a tube or conveyance mechanism 77 for providing
fluid to spray units 59. FIG. 2b is a diagram of a thick plate
layout 81 with spray units 59 on the plate surface and spray units
on the surface of a thick edge of the plate. A center of the plate
and its spray units might be absent leaving a ring-like structure
having just the thick edge with spray units 59. Such configuration
may be referred to a dog-collar.
FIG. 2c is a diagram of a drum layout 82 having multiple rows of
spray units 59 on the side surface of the drum. The bottom or the
top surface may have spray units 59. FIG. 2d is a diagram of a
layout 83 like that of layout 75 of FIG. 2a, but being oriented
with spray units 59 at an angle, either up or down, or other
ways.
Spray units 59 may be selected from a variety of devices such as
nozzle injectors, atomizers, nebulizers, and so forth. For
illustrative purposes, example nebulizers may be noted. FIG. 3 is a
diagram of nebulizer 85. Nebulizer 85 may be a stainless steel
plate 86 having about 600 to 800 holes 87. Each hole 87 may have a
diameter of five to seven microns. Other variations of nebulizer 85
may have 50 to 5000 holes in plate 86, having a diameter between
0.5 and 50 microns. A piezoelectric ring 88 may be attached to
steel plate 86 encircling holes 87 in plate 86. Plate 86 may be
made from other materials. Piezoelectric ring 88 may actuate plate
86 with an AC current applied to leads 93 and 94. Other kinds of
mechanisms may be used to actuate plate 86. A shape of the
nebulizer 85 layout of holes 87 and piezoelectric ring 88, may each
have a shape other than shown in the diagram of FIG. 3. About
twenty nebulizers 85 as described in FIG. 3 used as spray units 59
in system 55 may use, as an estimate, about twelve gallons of
purified water per day. An amount of water used may vary,
particularly in accordance with a design for system 55, associated
HVAC, and nebulizers 85.
Plate 86 may have a thickness of about 0.5 mm. Holes 87 may be made
within a circle of about 6.5 mm in diameter. Ring 88 of
piezoelectric material may be glued to a surface of plate 86 so
that holes 87 are within an inner diameter of ring 88. As an AC
current or voltage is applied to ring 88, the piezoelectric
material of ring 88 may shrink and expand radially. The shrinking
may make metal plate 86 buckle and thus eject droplets of fluid
(e.g., water).
Nebulizers 85 may be operated with plates 86 in resonance in order
to increase movement of plates 86, output and efficiency of the
nebulizers. A steady flow of fluid, e.g., water, may be used.
During a prolonged use of nebulizers 85, for instance, in a
humidifier, there may be a decrease in fluid flow due to a change
of resonant frequency of nebulizers 85, for example, due to a load
or stiffness change of vibrating plates 86, such as some material
being deposited or removed from plates 86 or holes 87. Deposited
materials may consist of minerals or other materials or particles,
including organics, that are in the water. If each plate 86 is
coated with a special film, e.g., hydrophobic or hydrophilic, the
material deposited on plate 86, material on plate 86 may be washed
out during operation of respective nebulizer 85.
More than one nebulizer may be on a plate.
FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b are diagrams 91 and 92, respectively, that
appear to show an impact of washing nebulizers 85 in soapy water on
the resonant frequency of a plate 86. A nebulizer resonant
frequency in diagram 92 may indicate a shift in resonant frequency
from an original 100 kHz to about 104 kHz. The shift may be
attributed to an ultrasound washing with soapy water that removed
some mass from plate 86 and increased the resonant frequency. An
opposite frequency shift may be caused by a material deposition
during operation of nebulizers 85 as spray units 59 during
operation in a humidifier system 55 having a purifier 63 that uses
an RO filter which cleans out, perhaps, just 95 percent of the
minerals of the water conveyed by nebulizers 85. Diagram 91 is a
graph of plots of frequency of plate 85 in kHz relative to drive
current in milliamps. Curves #1 through #6 are plotted in diagram
91 and are listed in diagram 92 indicating the various nebulizer
flows for 100 kHz and 104 kHz, respectively, as indicated by the
legend in FIG. 4a. From the plot in FIG. 4a, of current versus
frequency, it may be noted that the resonant frequency shifted to
104 kHz. From the table in FIG. 4b, it may be noted that a flow of
a nebulizer appears to increase by a factor of two to three once
the frequency increased from the original frequency of 100 kHz to
104 kHz.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a drive circuit 95, which may be modified to
adjust the frequency to a maximum current consumption, and may be
an optimization of current for a nebulizer or a 30 group of
nebulizers. Drive circuit 95 may maximize flow by maximizing
current. So the nebulizer may be actuated to operate close to or at
the resonant frequency. Frequency tuning may be achieved by
measuring current magnitude at lead 93 or 94 of piezoelectric ring
or element 88, that makes the mesh plate vibrate. The current may
be the largest in magnitude during resonance since most of the
water is pushed out by plate 86 as it moves by the largest amount.
Pushing out more water may require more energy than is provided by
the electric current. Therefore, frequency optimization may be
achieved by changing the frequency of the drive current to
piezoelectric element 88 reaches a maximum amount of drive current.
Current measurements and frequency adjustments may be done for an
individual device or for groups of devices to avoid costs of
additional electrical components. The approach for a group of
nebulizers is feasible if all nebulizers in the group have the same
mass addition or removal.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a driver circuit 96, which may be a part of
controller 60 in FIG. 1. A microcontroller 140 may provide a signal
to a waveform generator 141, which may output an AC signal having a
frequency that is adjustable according to a signal from
microcontroller 140. The AC signal may go to a driver 142. Driver
142 may provide the signal from generator 141 with sufficient
current to drive piezoelectric ring 88 (FIG. 3). Measuring circuit
143 can provide a current magnitude measurement to microcontroller
140, which may vary the signal to waveform generator 141 that
adjusts the frequency so that the current magnitude achieves a
maximum. Current from driver 142 may go to a nebulizer 85 or an
array of nebulizers 85 via leads 93 and 94 to piezoelectric ring 88
of the one or more nebulizers 85. Microcontroller 140, waveform
generator 141, driver 142 and current measuring circuit 143 may
constitute a servo loop of circuit 96 for self-calibration and
maximizing the current of the drive signals for maximizing flow by
nebulizer or nebulizers 85. Circuit 96 may ensure automatic
adjustment of the nebulizer drive frequency to be at resonance in
spite of drift of the resonant frequency of nebulizer 85 over
time.
Relative to nebulizers 85 that may be used as spray units 59, some
issues might appear apparent. Running nebulizers dry in periods of
long activity to prevent an appearance of pathogens in standing
water, a dry state may be detected by observing a higher current in
each nebulizer. Nebulizers should not be left to run dry for long
periods of time.
Determining leakage in system 55 may be done by measuring a water
flow rate that exceeds the nebulizer flow rate. Each nebulizer 85
flow may be characterized periodically so that a correct amount of
water is delivered to air to avoid condensation.
A design of a nebulizer and a wing to provide or improve a laminar
air flow may be one way to optimize droplet mixing with air and
ensuing evaporation. For instance, a humidifier that injects small
water droplets in an air stream or flow may cause droplet
accumulation on nearby surfaces if the air flow is turbulent.
Accumulated water may drip down and form a puddle that can cause
water damage and encourage a growth of algae, bacteria or mold. An
example of such a humidifier may be a nozzle injection system or a
nebulizer system.
The water issue may be solved by creating very small and uniform
droplets 68 (FIG. 1), thus minimizing large droplet formation and
entraining the droplets in a laminar versus a turbulent air flow.
Nebulizer plates 86 may be a way of generating small droplets 68.
The nozzle or hole 87 size in plates 86 should be very uniform
because even a few micro holes with a larger diameter than holes 87
may result in a big quantity of large droplets. The large droplets
may also form from collisions between small droplets. Large
droplets may take a long time to evaporate and during that time can
hit and accumulate on return air duct structure 72 (FIG. 1). Thus,
the droplets should be very small, e.g., 5-7 microns, so as to
evaporate before they have many chances of collision or create a
deposition of water on air duct 72 features like corners or walls.
The large droplets that follow a straight path due to their larger
momentum may be hit by small droplets that follow a slightly
turbulent direction. This activity may generate even larger
droplets. However, the small droplets may be injected in a laminar
air flow so that they follow parallel paths and have a lower
probability of colliding and creating large droplets. Laminar air
flow may be obtained with a special shape of a nebulizer head 151
as shown in diagrams of FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b. For instance, the
nebulizer head 151 may have a shape of a rectangular wing that is
attached in the middle of an air duct 152. Arrays 153 of nebulizers
may be situated at a leading edge of head 151 on the bottom and top
of head 151. Electronics, a valve and filter e.g., RO, may be in a
box 154 with a water line 155 and electrical drive 156 connected to
nebulizer arrays 153. The diagram of FIG. 6a shows a side view of
wing shaped nebulizer head 151, and the diagram of FIG. 6b shows a
bottom view of the wing shaped nebulizer head 151. A level sensor
164 may be placed at nebulizer head 151.
An edge of an opening holding nebulizer array 153, or plate 86
(FIG. 3) on nebulizer head 151 may cause turbulence that could be
removed with a water proof gasket 162 by attaching nebulizer array
153 with double-sided sticky tape 161 or gluing array 153 to an
outside wall of nozzle head 151 shown in a diagram of FIG. 7. Such
configuration may remove surface features that produce air flow
eddies, and provide for an entrainment of droplets in the air flow
or stream without collisions. The nozzles may also be placed on a
top surface of nebulizer head 151 as in a diagram of FIG. 8, and
water may be delivered to the nozzles by filling a container or
providing a wick.
Nebulizer head 151 may be manufactured with 3D printing. Double
sticky tape 161 with a thin layer of foam may be recommended to
allow for vibration of nebulizer array 153 plate 86, as it may be a
vibration force that ejects droplets 68 (FIG. 1). The rest of a
system may consist of a water purifier, e.g., reverse osmosis, a
nebulizer drive and controller that turns the nozzle plates 86 on
and off, and maintains a water level in head 151.
A nebulizer may be damaged if it operates without water. On the
other hand, leakage may develop if the water level for the
nebulizer gets too high. The water level may be sensed by a level
detector, e.g., a conductivity based detector.
The present system may incorporate an enclosure and a humidifier
that can easily replace an already installed humidifier in many
homes and buildings. The humidifiers and respective enclosures may
be noted herein. FIG. 9 is a diagram of enclosure 11 for a
humidifier arrangement that incorporates an emitter or nebulizer
array 12 that provides droplets 13 of water into an air 14 that
flows sideways from duct 15 through a volume 16 where the air 14
interacts with droplets 13 to become misty air 17 that flows down
toward the bottom of enclosure 11 and out of the enclosure through
a cold air return duct 18. The term "down" may mean toward the
earth's surface. The term "up" may mean away from the surface of
the earth. A clear window 19 may be part of enclosure 11 that might
permit one to see the misty air 17 flowing through enclosure 11. A
drain may be at the bottom of enclosure 11 for removal of water
from the enclosure. Items 21 may be magnetic plugs that aid in
connecting enclosure 11 to ducts 15 and 18. FIG. 10 is a diagram
that reveals a top view 22, a front view 23 and a right or side
view 24 of enclosure 11. Enclosure 11 may be regarded as a pill
type enclosure.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of an enclosure 25 for a humidifier
arrangement that incorporates an emitter nebulizer array 26 that
provide droplets 27 of water downward into an upward flow of air 28
from a duct 31 to a center portion of enclosure 25 and become an
air and mist mixture or misty air 29 that moves downward toward a
bottom of enclosure 25 into a cold air return duct 32. FIG. 12 is a
diagram that reveals a front view 33, a bottom view 34 and a side
or right view 35 of enclosure 25. Enclosure 25 may be oriented in
different positions where the droplets 26 are emitted sideways and
that the mist and air 29 move sideways into duct 32. Enclosure 25
may be regarded as a round type enclosure.
FIG. 13 is a diagram of an enclosure 38 for a humidifier
arrangement that incorporates an emitter or nebulizer array 39 that
provides droplets 41 of water upward into an incoming air flow 42
from an entrance or duct 43. Droplets 41 may move upward from array
39 along with air 42 and mix into a mist and air 43 to move upward
in a center tube 44 and then downward in an outer concentric tube
45 and then upward at an inside volume of wall 47 of enclosure 38
to a cold air return duct 48. FIG. 14 is a diagram that reveals a
top view 51, a front view 52, and a side or right view 53 of
enclosure 38. Enclosure 38 may be regarded as a cyclone type of
enclosure.
FIG. 15 is a diagram of a model "A" humidifier enclosure 245.
Enclosure 245 may have a lower housing 246 and an upper housing
247. There may be an existing bracket 248 for attachment of the
lower and upper housings. There may be an air intake port 249 and
an emitter housing 251. Also shown are a test button 252 and a
plastic tinted front shell 253.
FIG. 16 is a diagram of enclosure 245 without front shell 252
thereby revealing some internal components in enclosure 245.
Emitter housing 251 may contain an emitter arrangement and an LED.
An air guide 254 and an air output port 255 are shown.
FIG. 17 is a diagram revealing an air flow 257 through enclosure
245. Dry air may enter air intake port 249, go past the emitter in
housing 251 where micro water droplets 258 are released by the
emitter into the dry air of air flow 257 where the air becomes
humid and flows through lower housing 246, around air guide 254
into upper housing 247, and through output port 255 as humid air.
Air flow 257 may follow a path that is of an extended nature for a
given size of enclosure 245 to ensure evaporation of droplets 258
before reaching output port 255.
FIG. 18 is a diagram of a back view of enclosure 245. Air intake
port 249 may have a pipe placement or attachment component.
Enclosure 245 may be attached to the existing bracket 248 with
output 255 for humidified air moving into a return air duct. Pegs
261 may secure enclosure 245 to existing bracket 248.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing emitter housing 251 with emitters 262
and one or more LEDs 263. Housing 251 may fit into a cavity 264 of
enclosure 245. Emitters 262 may eject micro droplets 258 into dry
air coming through air intake port 249.
To reiterate, the approach may incorporate determining a
temperature in a space associated with a humidifying unit,
determining a relative humidity in the space, determining an air
speed associated with the humidifying unit, and adjusting an amount
of water sprayed by the humidifying unit based, at least in part,
on the temperature, the relative humidity, and the air speed.
A humidifying device may be modular and scaled for use in small
spaces (e.g., vehicles, residences, or the like) and/or large
spaces (e.g., large residences, commercial buildings, and the like)
as well as spaces in between. Humidifying devices in accordance
with the present disclosure may be used in spaces designated for
specialized commercial operations, such as internet server centers
and/or clean rooms (e.g., spaces for integrated circuit
fabrication).
Items of the present disclosure may be modular, such as those that
are easier to control, more efficient, and/or more reliable than
previous approaches.
Various approaches may incorporate spray units (e.g., spray heads)
in an array, for instance (e.g., as part of a humidifying device or
unit (hereinafter referred to as a "humidifier")). Each spray unit
of the array may be controlled and/or operated (e.g., turned on
and/or off) independently. Independent operation may be performed
using a respective control component (e.g., an actuator and/or
electric switch) associated with each spray unit.
By operating the spray units independently of each other, one may
allow each spray unit to be used for a reduced period of time
and/or at intervals with respect to previous approaches.
Independent operation may increase a lifetime of each individual
spray unit, for instance, as well as a humidifier incorporating the
array of spray heads.
The presence of spraying units in the humidifier may allow for a
gradual degradation of humidifier performance rather than abrupt
degradation and/or failure as with previous approaches. For
example, a humidifier having twelve spray heads where one has
failed may be just minimally reduced in performance versus a
humidifier having a single spray head that fails. Thus, a useful
life of the humidifier may be extended in instances where some of
the spray heads experience failure(s).
Further, independent operation of spray units may allow for
rotation of active spray units. That is, some embodiments may allow
cycling of activated (e.g., turned-on and/or spraying) spray units.
For example, a first subset of the array of spray units (e.g., a
first nozzle plate) may be operated for a period of time (e.g., 1-2
minutes) and then a second subset of the array of spray units
(e.g., a second nozzle plate) may be operated for another period of
time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) while the first subset is deactivated.
Thereafter, the first subset may be reactivated and/or a third
subset (or more subsets) may be activated similarly. Using
independent operational control of the spray units may also allow
the activation and deactivation of spray units within a single
nozzle plate.
Condensation problems associated with some approaches may be
reduced (e.g., eliminated) because by rotating activated spray
units, the present approach may avoid cooling portions of a
humidifier (e.g., nozzle plate fixtures) to a degree such that
water vapor condenses thereon. By reducing condensation, the
present approach may increase efficiency associated with operation
of a humidifier and reduce (e.g., eliminate) contamination of air
ducts with water, for instance. Durations of activity and/or
inactivity of spray units may be determined based on one or more
factors. For instance, rotation frequency may be increased based on
increased level(s) of humidity.
Rotation frequency may be decreased based on decreased fan speed(s)
and/or temperature(s).
In an example, rotation may incorporate a first subset of plurality
of spray units being activated for a particular period of time.
Then, the rotation may incorporate a second subset of the plurality
of spray units being activated and the first subset of the
plurality of spray units being deactivated for the particular
period of time. The subsets may be determined based on their
location. For example, the firsts subset may be located on a first
side of the humidifier and the second subset may be located on a
second (e.g., opposing) side of the humidifier. Reducing
condensation by rotating spray units may reduce humidifier
deterioration caused by prolonged presence of moisture (e.g., on
dry side of humidifier), for instance.
Application of coatings with super-hydrophobic properties to
specific surfaces or the entire surface of the present system may
also provide a way to mitigate the condensation, or accumulation of
water by preventing it from accumulating at all. By way of example,
and not limitation, Super-hydrophobic coatings may be applied to
surfaces within the system which have a high likelihood of
accumulating water droplets, or are susceptible to problems such as
growth of biological contaminants, accumulation of water-borne
materials, corrosion, rot, discoloration or pooling.
Modular designs in accordance with the present system are not
necessarily limited to a particular configuration. Rather, such
designs may be customized according to duct access, orientation
(e.g., vertical or horizontal) and/or size. By way of example, and
not of limitation, the present approach and system may incorporate
vertical configurations of one or more arrays of spray units and/or
horizontal configurations of one or more arrays of spray units
(e.g., using narrow trays and a nozzle plate or plates inserted in
a middle of a duct).
In addition to modularity, the present approach and system may
provide humidification in conjunction with cooling more efficiently
than some other approaches. For example, in previous approaches,
standard cooling heat exchange coils may extract humidity from air
due to condensation on cold surfaces. Because the condensation may
release heat, air conditioning units might need to compensate and
thus consume more electricity.
Further, once some approaches have removed humidity from the air,
an additional humidifying device (e.g., an evaporator) may be
employed to replenish it. However, such devices may generate heat
and thus utilize more electricity. In some other approaches, energy
may be expended twice--first to condensate water from vapor, and
then to evaporate water.
The present system may reduce electricity usage by providing
humidification and cooling in a single device. For example, the
system may allow a regulation of water dispersed (e.g., sprayed) by
a humidifier such that the water (e.g., virtually all the water)
evaporates rather than condenses on surfaces of ducts. Such system
may be based on a principle that the evaporation speed of a water
droplet is proportional to the diameter of the droplet squared and
inversely proportional to a difference between the dry and wet bulb
temperatures.
Further, a time of flight of a droplet before it reaches a surface
on which it may be deposited may also be inversely proportional to
the speed of the air carrying it. That speed, for instance, may be
controlled and/or determined by the speed (e.g., setting) of a fan
in forced air conditioning systems. Accordingly, embodiments of the
present system may finely control an amount of water used by a
humidifier to achieve desired cooling and/or humidification while
reducing condensation based, at least in part, on air temperature,
humidity, and air speed.
It may be noted that "a number of spray units" may refer to one or
more spray units.
An array of nebulizers may be configured to expel air to prevent
the degradation of array performance from trapped air. Through the
normal operation of a nebulizer, the expulsion of water droplets
also has the possibility of ingesting air bubbles, which can
accumulate near or against the water source facing surface of the
nebulizer, causing an interruption in normal operation. By shaping
the nebulizer array such that air bubbles are drawn away from the
operating nebulizers, and accumulated then expelled by the array,
the array can continue to operate normally.
The system may use one or more mechanisms to regulate water
pressure within the system to prevent over-pressurization which can
lead to nebulizers "sweating" when not operating. By way of
example, and not limitation, a reservoir may be used within the
system to hold water at a depth which cannot exceed that which
causes water pressure to exceed the maximum supported by the
nebulizer.
The system may incorporate several visual elements to give human
operators feedback as to the operational health of the system. By
way of example, and not limitation, the System may incorporate LED
illumination to make the mist more visible to an observer, and also
incorporate transparent viewing elements into the design to further
enable the observation of water mist.
The system may incorporate a user input button which can allow the
unit to begin operating regardless of the normal operating stats it
is in. This function is designed to show an operator that the unit
is functioning properly, even if the related systems that control
it (i.e.: the furnace and/or humidistat) are not presently telling
the unit to operate. For example, and not limitation, activating
the feature may cause the unit to begin operating, as if under
normal operating conditions to allow for the creation of water mist
by the nebulizer array, and illumination to be turned on, so that
an observer can see that plumbing has been installed properly, and
the system has power needed to function.
FIG. 20 is a diagram of a system 100 for humidifying. System 100
may incorporate a control unit 102 communicatively coupled to a
humidifying unit 108. Control unit 102 may, for example, be a
computing device having a memory 104 (e.g., storing a set of
executable instructions) and a processor 106 (e.g., configured to
execute the executable instructions), though various versions of
the present system are not necessarily limited. For example,
control unit 102 may incorporate an integrated circuit and/or logic
to perform a number of the functionalities described herein.
Control unit 102 may incorporate a memory 104 and a processor 106.
Memory 104 may be any type of storage medium that can be accessed
by processor 106 to perform various examples of the present
disclosure. For example, memory 104 may be a non-transitory
computer readable medium having computer readable instructions
(e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are
executable by processor 106 for humidifying in accordance with one
or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
Memory 104 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory 104 may
also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g.,
internal) memory. For example, memory 104 may be random access
memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or
phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM)
(e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)
and/or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a
laser disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disk
storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes,
tapes, or disks, among other types of memory.
Further, although memory 104 may be illustrated as being located in
control unit 102, embodiments of the present disclosure are not
necessarily so limited. For example, memory 104 may also be located
internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer
readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another
wired or wireless connection).
Humidifying unit 108 may incorporate a plurality (e.g., array) of
spray units. As shown in FIG. 20 humidifying unit 108 may
incorporate a spray unit 110, a spray unit 112, a spray unit 114, a
spray unit 116, a spray unit 118, a spray unit 120, a spray unit
122, a spray unit 124, a spray unit 126, a spray unit 128, a spray
unit 130, and a spray unit 132 (sometimes generally herein referred
to as "spray units 110-132"). Although 12 spray units may be
illustrated in the example shown in FIG. 20, embodiments of the
present disclosure are not necessarily limited to a particular
number of spray units.
As shown in FIG. 20, each of spray units 110-132 may be connected
(e.g., communicatively coupled) to control unit 102 by a respective
pair of wires. Spray unit 110 may be connected via wires 111, spray
unit 112 may be connected via wires 113, spray unit 114 may be
connected via wires 115, spray unit 116 may be connected via wires
117, spray unit 118 may be connected via wires 119, spray unit 120
may be connected via wires 121, spray unit 122 may be connected via
wires 123, spray unit 124 may be connected via wires 125, spray
unit 126 may be connected via wires 127, spray unit 128 may be
connected via wires 129, spray unit 130 may be connected via wires
131, and spray unit 132 may be connected via wires 133 (the wires
illustrated in FIG. 20 may sometimes be cumulatively referred to
herein as "wires 111-133").
Accordingly, control unit 102 may communicate with and/or control
an operation of (e.g., activate and/or deactivate) each of spray
units 110-132 independently (e.g., individually). Each of spray
units 110-132 may incorporate a spray nozzle. For example, each of
spray units 110-132 may incorporate an ultrasonic atomizer and/or
nebulizer having a piezoelectric element (e.g., ceramic, crystal,
and so forth) attached to a metal plate with an array of small
openings (e.g., holes), for instance (e.g., 5 microns in diameter).
In an ultrasonic atomizer, voltage applied across the piezoelectric
element (e.g., via any of the wires 111-133) may cause the element
to vibrate and expel water droplets through the openings (e.g., a
fine mist of water). The present system is not necessarily limited
to a particular type of spray unit and may incorporate various
devices configured to disperse water (e.g., fine water droplets)
into air.
Being modular, the system illustrated in FIG. 20 may allow for the
minimization of condensation upon any portion of humidifying unit
108. Because condensation may release heat, air conditioning units
may use increased energy to maintain cool temperature levels in
some other approaches. The present system may regulate a length of
activation time and/or an amount of water sprayed by one or more
spray units of a humidifying unit such that the sprayed water is
evaporated rather than condensed. Reducing condensation may
incorporate, for instance, rotating one or more spray units.
FIG. 21 is a diagram of a system 236 for humidifying. System 236
may, for example, combine a cooling system (e.g., an air
conditioner) with a humidification system (e.g., a humidifier).
System 236 may make use of a principle that a rate of water droplet
evaporation is proportional to a diameter of the water droplet
squared and inversely proportional to a difference between a dry
bulb temperature and a wet bulb temperature. Another principle used
may be that a time of flight (e.g., through a duct) of water
droplets before they reach a surface on which they may be deposited
is inversely proportional to a velocity of the air (e.g., the fan
speed setting in a forced air conditioning system). Accordingly, in
such a system, depending on a temperature of the air, a humidity,
and a speed of the fan, a target (e.g., desired) cooling and/or
humidification rate, may be controlled by varying an amount of
water released by the humidifier.
Additionally, or alternatively, a target cooling and/or
humidification rate may be controlled by varying an air speed
passing (e.g., passing by, over, under, across, and so on) a
humidifier. The air speed may be proportional and/or related to a
speed (e.g., speed setting) of a fan of an HVAC system associated
with the space.
System 236 may incorporate a humidifier 200 (e.g., a humidifier
analogous to system 100 (FIG. 20) and a sensor unit 240 inside an
air duct 238 (illustrated as a cross-section of a portion of a duct
in FIG. 21). Sensor unit 240 may be located a particular distance
242, in a direction of air flowing through the duct, from
humidifier 200.
Though not necessarily shown, system 236 may incorporate a fan. The
fan may be in communication with a control unit (e.g., control unit
102 of FIG. 20) through a wired and/or wireless connection. The fan
may have a fixed speed, or the fan may have a number of discrete
speed settings. Or fan speed may be continuously adjustable over a
range of speeds. There may be an adjusting a speed of a fan (e.g.,
to provide desire cooling and/or air flow).
Sensor unit 240 may incorporate a number of sensors. Although
sensor unit 240 is illustrated as a single component, various
adaptations sensor unit 240 may be in accordance with the present
system. For example, sensor unit 240 may incorporate one or more
temperature sensors. Temperature sensors may be configured to
determine (detect, measure, and/or acquire) dry bulb temperature(s)
inside duct 238.
Additionally, sensor unit 240 may incorporate one or more relative
humidity sensors. For example, the wet bulb temperature may be
inferred from humidity and temperature measurements using a known
relationship (e.g., dependence), which may be represented in a
table and/or equation, for instance. Such examples are not
necessarily to be taken in a limiting sense; rather, sensor unit
240 may incorporate any number and/or type of sensor configured to
determine various parameters associated with the air flowing
through duct 238.
System 236 may incorporate an upstream sensor unit 241. Upstream
sensor unit 214 may incorporate one or more temperature sensors
and/or relative humidity sensors in a manner analogous to sensor
unit 240, for instance. Upstream sensor unit 241 may be in
communication with a control unit (e.g., control unit 102, noted in
connection with FIG. 20) through a wired and/or wireless
connection, for instance.
Upstream sensor unit 241 may be used in conjunction with sensor
unit 240 to determine change(s) in temperature and/or humidity
caused by humidifier 200. Locating upstream sensor 241 immediately
upstream from humidifier 200 may allow embodiments of the present
disclosure to moderate and/or finely tune one or more operations of
humidifier 200.
As air flows through duct 238, humidifier 200 may disperse water
droplets which can be carried through the air along distance 242.
Distance 242 may be determined and/or selected such that the water
droplets released from humidifier 200 have sufficient time to
evaporate (e.g., sufficient time for humidity mixing in the air)
before reaching sensor unit 240, for instance. Measurements
associated with the flowing (e.g., flowing and humidified) air may
be taken by sensor unit 240 and used by embodiments of the present
disclosure to vary an amount of water released by humidifier 200,
for instance, in controlling and/or maintaining a target cooling
and/or humidification rate.
The present system may incorporate maintaining relative humidity
within a particular humidity range. That is, it may maintain
relative humidity below a first threshold and above a second
threshold. A control unit may be configured to receive an
indication of the relative humidity and an indication of the
temperature and cause a modification of an operation of the
humidifying unit in response to at least one of the relative
humidity and the temperature exceeding a particular threshold.
For example, a temperature difference between dry bulb temperature
and wet bulb temperature may be kept below 5 degrees Celsius
(Tdrybulb-Twetbulb=5 C). Additionally, the temperature at sensor
unit 240 may be maintained above a particular threshold (e.g.,
greater than 15 degrees Celsius). Humidity may be controlled by
keeping relative humidity on a curve corresponding to the
difference between dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature.
In the example where such a difference may be 5 degrees Celsius,
the curve may be represented by: 0.0216*T{circumflex over (
)}2+1.8944*T+30.656. The curve may be derived from various
properties of humid air by maintaining the difference between the
dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature at 5 degrees Celsius,
for instance. It may be to be understood that a different curve
would correspond to a different temperature difference (e.g., a
different curve would result from a difference between the dry bulb
temperature and wet bulb temperature being 7 degrees Celsius) as
well as other factors.
For increased temperature differences (e.g., 7 degrees Celsius),
higher air speed and/or smaller duct size or sizes may be used.
Increased temperature differences may be used in the system having
larger droplets (e.g., if droplet diameter increases by a factor of
1.41, temperature difference may increase two-fold).
Droplet size may be kept constant by maintaining parameters of
spray units (e.g., nozzles). For example, droplet size may be kept
constant by keeping the spray unit frequency and/or actuation
voltage under a threshold at which the droplets may tend to merge
into a continuous stream of water.
To control humidity, the present system may adjust a number of
spray units that are activated and/or deactivated. The activation
and/or deactivation may be responsive to a temperature exceeding a
particular threshold. For example, a threshold temperature may be
established (e.g., 16 degrees Celsius and/or 8 degrees Celsius
below a set point of a thermostat associated with humidifier 200).
Then, if a temperature determined by sensor unit 240 increases
above the threshold temperature and a relative humidity determined
by sensor unit 240 decreases below the curve, a spray unit (e.g.,
spray unit 122) may be activated.
If the thermostat is not requiring cooling, the threshold
temperature may be higher (e.g., 20 degrees Celsius and/or 2
degrees Celsius below the thermostat set point), so the cooling may
not be as pronounced as previously discussed, but humidification
may still be occurring. Thus, for various temperatures and
velocities of incoming air, the present system may reduce (e.g.,
prevent) condensation by ensuring that water droplets are
evaporated (rather than condensed).
The present system may deactivate humidifier 200 if relative
humidity is determined by sensor unit 240 to exceed a particular
threshold (e.g., 35%). In such instances, air conditioning (e.g.,
traditional air conditioning), rather than humidification, may be
used to provide cooling. The present system may accordingly cause a
modification of an operation of the humidifying unit in response to
the relative humidity exceeding a particular threshold and/or the
temperature exceeding a particular threshold.
FIG. 22 is a diagram of an approach 344 for humidifying in
accordance with the present system. Approach 344 may be performed
by a control unit (e.g., control unit 102 (FIG. 20), for instance.
The control unit may, for example, be a computing device, but not
necessarily so limited. For example, the control unit may
incorporate an integrated circuit and/or logic.
At block 346, approach 344 may incorporate determining a
temperature in a space associated with a humidifying unit. In some
versions, a temperature may be determined in a duct associated with
a humidifying unit. That is, approach 344 may incorporate
determining a temperature in a duct at a particular distance
downstream from the humidifying unit. In other versions, a
temperature may be determined at other locations. For example, a
space associated with a humidifying unit may contain a thermostat.
The thermostat may determine a temperature at its location in the
space, for example. The thermostat may be in communication with the
control unit through a wired and/or wireless connection, for
instance. However, a temperature may be determined at additional or
other locations within the space.
At block 348, approach 344 may incorporate determining a relative
humidity in the space. In some versions, a relative humidity may be
determined in a duct associated with a humidifying unit. That is,
approach 344 may incorporate determining a downstream relative
humidity in a duct at the particular distance downstream from the
humidifying unit.
In other versions, a relative humidity may be determined at other
locations. For example, a space associated with a humidifying unit
may contain a thermostat. The thermostat may determine a relative
humidity at its location in the space, for example. The thermostat
may be in communication with the control unit through a wired
and/or wireless connection, for instance. A relative humidity may
be determined at additional or other locations within the
space.
At block 350, approach 344 incorporate determining an air speed
associated with the humidifying unit. An air speed may be a speed
of air passing (e.g., passing by, over, under, across, or
otherwise) the humidifying unit. The air speed may be proportional
and/or related to a speed (e.g., speed setting) of a fan of an HVAC
system associated with the space. In some versions of the present
system, determining the air speed may incorporate determining the
fan speed. A relationship between fan speed and air speed may allow
the determination of air speed based on fan speed. It may be
understood that such a relationship may vary depending on the
particular installation and may be determined (e.g., calibrated),
for instance, at the time of installation.
Accordingly, the fan may be in communication with the control unit
through a wired and/or wireless connection. In some versions, a fan
may have a fixed speed. In other versions, a fan may have a number
of discrete speed settings. Or a fan speed may be continuously
adjustable over a range of speeds. Further yet, a fan (e.g., a fan
speed) associated with the humidifying unit may be adjusted (e.g.,
to provide desired cooling, humidity, and/or air flow).
At block 352, approach 344 may incorporate adjusting an amount of
water sprayed by the humidifying unit based on the temperature, the
relative humidity, and the air speed. Adjusting an amount of water
sprayed by the humidifying unit may incorporate activating and/or
deactivating a portion of the humidifying unit (e.g., a number of
spray units of the humidifying unit).
Adjusting may incorporate cycling of activated (e.g., turned-on
and/or spraying) spray units. Individual spray units may be
controlled independently. The amount of water sprayed may be
adjusted based on a desired humidity level in the space associated
with the humidifying unit.
Approach 344 may incorporate determining an upstream relative
humidity in a duct upstream from the humidifying unit. The upstream
relative humidity may be determined using an upstream sensor unit
(e.g., upstream sensor unit 214), which may incorporate one or more
temperature sensors and/or relative humidity sensors. Determining
the upstream relative humidity may allow the determination of
change(s) in temperature and/or humidity caused by the humidifier
and/or the fine tuning of one or more operations of the
humidifier.
Additionally, many homes (especially in the southwestern United
States, which have warmer climates) have ducted A/C systems.
Embodiments of the present disclosure could be used as a humidifier
that uses small "atomizer" plates that create droplets of water
that are microscopic and uniform.
By tightly controlling the droplet size to something that may be
easily absorbed in a room temperature air stream, the system may
output a significantly level of moisture without risk of
condensation in the ductwork. By spraying fine droplets in the air,
the device may output far more moisture than an evaporative pad
style device, and without the pressure drop associated with a
honeycomb style pad. In this way, it may function as an evaporative
cooler while recirculating the indoor air, regardless of the
outdoor conditions.
The present system does not necessarily rely on bringing in outdoor
air, which may be undesirable for a number of reasons (e.g., high
temperature, pollution, allergens). It may be retrofitted to
existing ductwork without new ductwork or adding an outdoor unit to
the home. It may function together with an air conditioner, instead
of working against it.
The present system may operate as an "atomizer" device that could
be set up as a "stage" of cooling alongside a current temperature
and relative humidity (RH %) to understand how much moisture could
be absorbed in the airstream efficiently.
If the RH % is low enough and there may be a need for cooling, the
system could operate the humidifier instead of the air conditioner
to attempt to meet the homeowner's set point. If the temperature
load became too great, or the RH % rises above the desired level,
the unit could be turned off and the traditional A/C could be used
instead. The energy savings for doing this could be substantial.
Using a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) system and $0.14
per kWh as a baseline, delivery of a gallon of water using this
system would save $1.14. A gallon of water may be $0.004/gallon (or
$0.02 per gallon if one needs to use reverse osmosis (RO) and only
get 20% efficiency). So a 12 gallon/day system could save the
homeowner over $13 per day in energy costs.
Versions of the present system may be used like a traditional
humidifier as well. In winter months when it is dry, the unit may
add humidity to the air. This may increase the heating load and
cause the furnace to run to reach temperature set points. One
advantage of the present system in such a manner may be that it may
run both during "heat" cycles, but also just "fan" cycles on the
main HVAC unit, since it does not necessarily rely on the furnace
heat to evaporate moisture.
To recap, a humidifier system may incorporate an enclosure having
an input port and an output port, one or more spray units situated
in the enclosure, and a conveyance mechanism having an output
connected to the one or more spray units, and having an input for
receiving a fluid. The one or more spray units may provide fluid
droplets into air flowing through the enclosure.
The enclosure may incorporate one or more channels that effectively
extend an evaporation distance due to cyclonic effects from the one
or more channels, and consequently increase evaporation of fluid
droplets from the spray units in the air flowing from the input
port to the output port.
Each spray unit may be a nebulizer. Each nebulizer may incorporate
a plate having one or more holes with diameters between one and one
hundred microns, and a piezoelectric material attached to the
plate. The piezoelectric material may have an opening that encloses
the one or more holes of the plate. A nebulizer may share a plate
with one or more nebulizers.
The input port of the enclosure may be for receiving a flow of air
having a first temperature. The output port of the enclosure may be
for providing a flow of air having a second temperature. The first
temperature may be higher than the second temperature.
The system may further incorporate a water purifier having an
output connected to the input of the conveyance mechanism and
having an input for receiving a fluid. The fluid may be water.
The water purifier may clean the water with a reverse osmosis
process.
The enclosure may have a drain for removal of condensed fluid in
the enclosure.
The piezoelectric material may actuate the plate to vibrate at a
frequency according to an AC current applied to the piezoelectric
material.
The system may further incorporate a driver that applies the AC
current to the piezoelectric material. A self-calibrating circuit
of the driver may adjust the frequency of the AC current to a
resonant frequency of the plate of the nebulizer.
An approach for humidifying air, may incorporate flowing air
through a first port into an enclosure, through the enclosure, and
out of the enclosure through a second port of the enclosure,
spraying the air flowing through the enclosure with droplets of
water from a spray assembly, determining a relative humidity of the
air flowing out of the enclosure through the second port of the
enclosure, and adjusting an amount of water provided by the spray
assembly as droplets of water into the air flowing through the
enclosure to achieve the relative humidity at a predetermined
percentage of the air flowing out of the second port of the
enclosure.
The spray assembly may incorporate one or more spray units, and a
manifold having an input connected to a water supply and one or
more outputs connected to one or more spray units. Each spray unit
may incorporate one or more plates attached to the one or more
outputs, respectively, of the manifold. Each of the one or more
plates may have one or more holes.
The amount of water provided to the spray assembly may first enter
the input of the manifold and go through the one or more outputs of
the manifold to the one or more plates and come out from the one or
more holes of each plate as droplets of water into the air flowing
through the enclosure.
The droplets of water may be sufficiently small enough to form a
vapor in the air flowing through the enclosure or flowing out of
the enclosure through the second port of the enclosure.
Each of the one or more plates may incorporate a group of 100 to
1000 holes having a diameter between one and 20 microns.
Each of the one or more plates may further incorporate a
piezoelectric material on a perimeter on a surface of each plate
around the group of holes.
The approach may further incorporate purifying the amount of water
provided to the spray assembly.
The one or more plates may be actuated with an AC current applied
to the piezoelectric material, to provide the droplets of
water.
A humidifier may incorporate an enclosure having an input and an
output, one or more emitters situated in the enclosure, a fluid
conveyance mechanism connected to the one or more emitters, and a
control unit connected to the one or more emitters. The control
unit may be configured to activate the one or more emitters. When
the one or more emitters are activated, the one or more emitters
may be configured to provide droplets of fluid that evaporate
within a predetermined distance from the emitters, in the
enclosure.
The humidifier may further incorporate a fluid filtration component
having an input for connection to fluid supply and having an output
connected to the fluid conveyance mechanism.
Air may enter the input of the enclosure, flow through the
enclosure, and exit through the output of the enclosure. The
droplets of fluid from the one or more emitters may evaporate
within the air and due to cyclonic effects on the droplets, the
cyclonic effects may reduce the evaporation distance to increase an
amount of evaporation of the droplets flowing through one or more
channels of the enclosure.
A temperature of the air at the input of the enclosure may be
higher than a temperature of the air at the output of the
enclosure.
The humidifier may be installed to existing humidifier ductwork by
attaching it to a housing of a previously installed humidifier.
Any publication or patent document noted herein is hereby
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each publication
or patent document was specifically and individually indicated to
be incorporated by reference.
In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a
hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner
or tense.
Although the present system and/or approach has been described with
respect to at least one illustrative example, many variations and
modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
reading the specification. It is therefore the intention that the
appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of
the related art to include all such variations and
modifications.
* * * * *
References